SIT325: Advanced Network Security

T2_2023, Deakin University, VIC

Activity: Task 2.1P, Pass Task

Released on 17th July, due date of submission is 31st July 23:59hrs.

Note: Queries should be forwarded to your respective tutor via email only. Give at least 2
business days for us to reply or give feedback.
Part A
Create a small minimal network topology which includes one OpenFlow kernel switch
connected to two hosts, plus the OpenFlow reference controller, an example is shown in the
figure below.

This topology could also be specified on the command line with --topo=minimal. Other
topologies are also available (see mininet> sudo mn --custom C_Topology.py --topo
C_Topology).

Use some commands to display nodes (mininet> nodes), display topology (mininet> net),
run the command mininet> h1 ifconfig -a on host h1 to show its network interfaces.
Replace h1 with s1 to see the details of the switch’s interfaces. Also, for a list of processes in a
host run h1 ps –a
Draw the Mininet minimal topology and include the IP and MAC addresses for hosts and the
switch. To which switch ports are the hosts and controller connected?
Part B
Test connectivity between hosts:
ping host 1 from host 2.
Examine the ping time for all five tries using mininet> h1 ping –c5 h2. What is the ping
time for each try?
Explain why there is a variation in the ping time?
Always remember:
To exit use mininet> exit
If Mininet crashes for some reason, clean it up, use $ sudo mn -c

Part C (maximum 200 words each question)

Q1. Provide three examples of east-west traffic and three examples of north-south traffic in a
modern data centre.
Q2. Premise of SDN is that the plethora of control plane protocols (discussed in the week 2’s
lecture slides 14-18) creates complexity that is not necessary in all networks. Give an example
of a network where the complexity is unnecessary and explain why this is so.
Q3. What is OpenFlow?
Q4. List essential characteristics of a network to be considered as an SDN network.

To Submit
Submit a word file, show your source code + screen shorts to show us that you have
successfully completed steps/ instructions, i.e., you are required to repeat the experiment at
your end and submit the codes and images to show complete implementation of all steps.
Submit all requirements in one pdf file.
Note that ‘show your source code’ does not mean that we want you to re-invent the wheel
and design the default topology in python, or to dig through the files and just find the default
code in the first place, or neither and it was just a copy and paste. The source code means your
python script, or you can even give a screen short of your written algo, both are fine.